Stories of the Cultural Landing Force. How Books Become a Source of Inspiration on the Frontlines

Smart Solutions and “Cultural Landing” continue to share stories of military personnel involved with the “Cultural Landing.” This time, the story features Andriy Ovcharuk, head of the “Books to the Front” project – a sergeant in the Ukrainian Armed Forces, volunteer, and former head of the Kyiv branch of “Old Lion Publishing House.”

For two years, Andriy served in an infantry battalion. In early 2024, he was invited to resume his former professional work within the Armed Forces of Ukraine, a proposal he quickly accepted due to his love for the literary world.

“Books to the Front” is a Cultural Landing project that provides service members with relevant literature, including novels, poetry collections, historical works, and non-fiction titles on psychology and self-development. Every book that reaches the front lines gives soldiers a chance to escape from the harsh reality and dive into new worlds, offering a source of knowledge and inspiration during the most challenging times.

“Books that help people find meaning, even in difficult situations, are especially important. For example, Viktor Frankl’s work on his experience in a concentration camp and the creation of logotherapy is very popular. So is the novel I See You’re Interested in Darkness by Ilarion Pavliuk and, naturally, the history of Ukraine. People want to better understand what’s happening to them, why they are here, and how they ended up in this war,” – says Andriy Ovcharuk.

The project team has established a broad network of partnerships with bookstores and publishing houses that encourage visitors to support the initiative. Anyone can visit a bookstore displaying the “Donate a Book to the Front” poster, purchase a book, sign it or include a card with well-wishes, and send it to defenders.

The “Books to the Front” project embodies many important initiatives:

• In collaboration with Yakaboo, an online bookstore, it distributes promo codes for free access to the “Heroes’ Library,” which includes dozens of audiobooks and over 500 e-books.
• It has already delivered over 24,000 books and provided 10,000 free accesses to Yakaboo’s electronic library.
• In April 2023, it partnered with Ukraine’s Ministry of Culture and Information Policy, supplying more than 6,500 books for military personnel.
• Thanks to its logistics partner, “Humanitarian Nova Poshta,” books are delivered to the front lines, hospitals, and rehabilitation centers.

The “Books to the Front” project serves as an important link between the world of literature and Ukraine’s defenders. Through the combined efforts of volunteers, bookstores, and caring individuals, each book given is not just a source of knowledge but a significant support that can inspire soldiers to make unconventional decisions in tough situations. Even a simple act of sending a book to the front can save lives, provide new perspectives, and help tilt events in favor of victory.